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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2941 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2301
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Kristin E. Kassner
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to local option zoning voting thresholds.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Kristin E. Kassner2nd Essex1/16/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2941 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2301
By Representative Kassner of Hamilton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2301) of
Kristin E. Kassner relative to zoning voting thresholds. Municipalities and Regional
Government.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3552 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to local option zoning voting thresholds.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Section 5 of chapter 40A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by striking out the following language: “no zoning ordinance or by-law or
3amendment thereto shall be adopted or changed except by a two-thirds vote of all the members
4of the town council, or of the city council where there is a commission form of government or a
5single branch, or of each branch where there are 2 branches, or by a two-thirds vote of a town
6meeting” and inserting in place thereof the following:-
7 “No zoning ordinance or by-law or amendment thereto shall be adopted or changed
8except by a two-thirds vote of all the members of the town council, or of the city council where
9there is a commission form of government or a single branch, or of each branch where there are
10two branches, or by a two-thirds vote of a town meeting. Except that the voting majority may be 2 of 2
11changed to a simple majority vote; such change shall be made by the voting majority then in
12effect and shall not become effective until 6 months have elapsed after the vote”